VacMaster VP112S Chamber Vacuum Sealer Review

NEW MODEL NUMBER VP112S – The very popular VP112 has been replaced with the new and improved VacMaster VP112S Home Chamber Vacuum Sealer. The review below covers the new VP112S model.

No Accessory Port: Unlike the original version, this new model does not have an accessory port. If that is on your must-have list, PolyScience does make a chamber vacuum sealer that has an external vacuum port. Go here to read our review of the PolyScience 300, or go here to see the PolyScience on Amazon.

This updated VacMaster model is the “next generation” of the top selling VP112, which had earned a good reputation, with over 70% of consumers giving it a 4 or 5 star rating.

One common complaint about the original model was that the lid was cheaply made and didn’t hold up well. Apparently Ary VacMaster was listening. The lid on the new model has been redesigned to make it sturdier and more suitable for repetitive sealing. While the company does describe this new lid as heavy duty, it does not say anything about constant heavy-duty use for commercial applications. Rather, this unit is listed as being ideal for home use, outdoor enthusiasts, and sous vide cooks.

One newly added feature is the special Marinating Cycle, which is designed for optimum flavor infusion in foods. Basically, this process works by alternating between the vacuuming state and shorter periods of rest with no vacuum.

Note that this cycle does not seal. It only marinates. If you’re preparing marinated food for storage you’ll need to marinate first, and then run another cycle to vacuum seal it.

Otherwise, the marinating feature gives you a way to very quickly marinate foods that you plan to cook right away. That’s a great help when you forget to plan ahead for something that you usually have to marinate for hours or overnight.

The dry pump can be a plus or a minus, depending on your personal preference. As mentioned in other chamber vacuum sealer reviews on this site, oil pumps cost more and require routine maintenance. They are preferred by some people because they’re faster, quieter, and seem to hold up better over the long term. On the other hand, units with a dry pump may run slower and require occasional cool-down periods during batch processing, but they cost less and are maintenance free.

Size and Capacity

Exterior dimensions: 24″ x 16″ x 9″

Interior dimensions: 12″ x 11″ x 5″

Weight: 46 pounds

All chamber vacuum sealers are pretty large appliances. In width and depth the VP112S has an even bigger footprint than most. However, it’s also not as tall as most others, and it has a hinged lid that makes it more counter-top friendly because you don’t need as much clearance under overhanging cabinets.

The interior chamber will hold food pouches up to a maximum of 12 x 14 inches.

What’s Included

Bags & Optional Accessories

Bags

It doesn’t make sense to cheap it on bags. The good ones work best, and anyway the price difference is minimal. Most highly recommended are those made by VacMaster because they are heavy duty and a minimum of 3 Mils thick. They’re also BPA free and suitable for freezing, refrigerating, microwaving, or boiling.

You can order these from the manufacturer, but based on my research I recommend you check Amazon’s prices. Here are some examples:

Customer Reviews

As of August 2018 there are still fewer than 150 online customer reviews. So far the feedback is overwhelmingly positive, which isn’t surprising considering that its predecessor the VP112 always earned very high praise.

Like the earlier model, the VP112S is deemed quite sufficient for home use. It’s easy to operate, and most report that it is good about producing consistently tight seals.

To get the best results you’ll certainly want to read the instructions first. The owner’s manual for the VP112S includes a number of tips, including:

Always allow at least 3″ of head space.

Due to gasses produced by certain fruits & vegetables, you may need to blanch or freeze first to get a good seal.

Freeze delicate foods before vacuum sealing to prevent crushing.

Don’t overfill food pouches.

As mentioned above, most of the complaints about the original model concerned the lid. Ary VacMaster has re-engineered that lid for the VP112S to make it more heavy-duty and solve the problems being reported.

The other complaint mentioned most often in the past was that customer service was either slow to respond or not helpful. You will now find evidence of the company responding to customer comments online, so that might indicate some improvement. It’s also important to note that if you look at the hundreds of online reviews for other VacMaster models, you’ll find plenty of good reports about the company’s customer service. It’s hard to judge, but generally speaking, a lot of people tend to be very quick to complain yet won’t take the time to review a product they love.

Cons

VacMaster VP112S Chamber Vacuum Sealer Review: Summary

In fairness, feedback is still rather limited on VacMaster VP112S Chamber Vacuum Sealer. Plenty of happy customers were very satisfied with the original model, and this is that same model only redesigned to add features and make improvements to solve earlier complaints. Along with the redesign comes a slight price increase, but it’s still one of the least expensive chamber vacuum sealers on the market.

Please feel free to share your experience and help others. If you’ve purchased this “new and improved” model we’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment below to tell use what you think – and remember that smart shoppers always want to know both the good and the bad points!

Where to Find It

If it’s out of stock at Amazon, and/or to search for a lower price, here is another seller you can try:

WebstaurantStore – VacMaster VP112S (?)Important: Sometimes you will see a notice on this site that says “Control panel appearance may vary”. Any difference in the control panel could mean it’s a different model. I would not order from this site without calling them first to be sure exactly which model you are buying. (Note: I have no affiliation with this company and no experience purchasing from them. They do have some positive customer reviews, but they pay their customers to write those reviews.)

I purchased the VP112 model. After approximately 16 months the unit developed an air leak. I discovered that one of the seal bar pistons was leaking air so I replaced it. I then realized that there was another air leak which was in the plastic frame which holds the large sealing gasket. The plastic frame had developed a micro crack which was leaking air into the chamber. This part, to the best of my knowledge is not replaceable. The VP112 is now useless. I must admit that for the first 16 months it was a wonderful unit and I will now never be without a sealer of some type though not this model.

Personally, I would still contact the company (even though you’re past the warranty). You never know when they might be willing to help you out just to protect their reputation, especially with a high end appliance.

Thank you for commenting here. Your experience may help others decide what to buy — and perhaps consider buying an extended warranty.

About The Healthy Kitchen Shop

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